2024 Eighth Circuit US Court of Appeals Case Law

Justia Opinion Summary: Rusty J. Driscoll was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, violating 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. He was sentenced to 540 months by the United States District Court for the District…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kyle J. Dalen was civilly committed but not taken into custody. Five months later, he was arrested for felony harassment and stalking and placed in county jail. Dalen sued, alleging pretrial punishment, unreasonable…

Justia Opinion Summary: Tad Mayfield, a nonpartisan legislative specialist in the assistant chief clerk’s office of the Missouri House of Representatives, was terminated on August 6, 2020, after sending an email on August 3, 2020, to the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Shannon Montgomery filed a claim for disability benefits in May 2013, citing medical conditions including chiari malformation, syringomyelia, syrinx cavities, and degenerative disc disorder. An administrative law judge…

Justia Opinion Summary: Chapter Kris Jackson, the debtor, appeals the bankruptcy court’s order denying her motion for sanctions, damages, and other relief against Rachel Gosset and Jordan Beswick, co-trustees of the Jackson Family Trust.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Matthew Cartia and Autumn Adams were arrested by officers when they attempted to interfere with a police investigation at Cartia's parents' house. The officers claimed that Cartia and Adams were interfering with their…

Justia Opinion Summary: Simon Quito-Guachichulca, a lawful permanent resident, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct under Minnesota law. Following his conviction, the government initiated removal proceedings, arguing that his…

Justia Opinion Summary: A grand jury indicted Derek Mims, Elmer Mims, David Belton, and Anton Whitney for conspiracy to distribute pure methamphetamine. Whitney was also charged with possession of a firearm by a drug user, and Belton was…

Justia Opinion Summary: A grand jury indicted Derek Mims, Elmer Mims, David Belton, and Anton Whitney for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Whitney was also charged with possession of a firearm by a drug user, and Belton with possession…

Justia Opinion Summary: Dr. Tara Gustilo, an Asian American obstetrician-gynecologist of Filipino descent, was demoted from her position as Chair of the OBGYN Department at Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc. (HHS) in April 2021. Following her…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kathan Daniel Wiley was convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. On October 30, 2021, Wiley's 18-month-old child ingested…

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiffs BSI Group LLC and International Business Solutions Group, LLC, financial service companies, contracted with EZBanc Corp for financial services. EZBanc collaborated with Solid Financial Technologies, Inc. and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Wayne Lozier, Jr., a licensed bounty hunter in Louisiana, traveled to Missouri to detain a fugitive, R.C., who had failed to appear for her court date in Louisiana. Lozier entered a residence in Missouri, handcuffed…

Justia Opinion Summary: After the death of George Floyd, large-scale protests occurred in Kansas City, Missouri. On May 30, 2020, the Kansas City Police Department requested assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol to manage the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Entergy Arkansas, LLC, a public utility company, challenged an order by the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) regarding the allocation of costs from a refund mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission…

Justia Opinion Summary: Derrick A. Davis sued the City of Little Rock, the chief of police, and three detectives for Fourth Amendment violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 after a no-knock warrant was executed on his residence. The warrant was…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jerell Wilson was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The charge stemmed from an investigation into the shooting death of Dolorean Wade, during which law…

Justia Opinion Summary: Following heavy snowfall in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the roofs of several chicken houses at ten poultry farms collapsed. Norfolk & Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which insured the farms, sued Rogers Manufacturing…

Justia Opinion Summary: Anthony Lemicy was convicted by a jury on four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), (e). The district court sentenced him to consecutive 30-year terms for each count, totaling 120 years.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Lester Brown was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking resulting in death, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brown, who dealt marijuana in Kansas City, had a history of…

Justia Opinion Summary: Mar Maluoth was convicted by a jury of unlawful possession of a machinegun in violation of federal law. During a police surveillance operation, officers observed suspicious behavior involving Maluoth, leading to a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert J. Hall, an inmate in the Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC), filed a lawsuit against MDOC and Corrections Officer Paul Woodruff, in his individual capacity, for injuries he sustained from an attack by a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Tremonti Perry, while incarcerated at Southeast Correctional Center, experienced a severe medical emergency that resulted in him being placed in a medically induced coma for a month. Several years after recovering, Perry…

Justia Opinion Summary: Eric Virrueta pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance but reserved the right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress evidence found in a warrantless search of his vehicle…

Justia Opinion Summary: National Presto Industries, Inc. ("Presto") designed and sold a personal electric heater called "HeatDish" since 1989. The product was sold at Costco, where Presto used a specific merchandising strategy to boost sales.…

Justia Opinion Summary: J.V. & Sons Trucking, Inc. ("J.V. & Sons") is a Utah corporation that hauls crude oil in Texas. Asset Vision Logistics, LLC ("AVL") is a logistics broker coordinating crude oil transportation. In June 2019, J.V. & Sons…

Justia Opinion Summary: Ethan Driskill and Marchello Oliver were charged with multiple drug-related offenses, including distribution of fentanyl and possession of firearms. Driskill was charged with distribution resulting in death, among other…

Justia Opinion Summary: Major Brands, Inc., a Missouri-licensed liquor distributor, had been the exclusive distributor of Jägermeister in Missouri since the 1970s. In 2018, Mast-Jägermeister US, Inc. (MJUS) terminated this relationship and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Strategic Energy Concepts, LLC (Strategic) partnered with Otoka Energy, LLC (Otoka) to develop a biomass power plant in California. The plant faced significant operational and financial issues, accumulating $19 million…

Justia Opinion Summary: Sisters Nikki Mazzocchio and Angela Kraus filed a federal "public liability action" under the Price-Anderson Act (PAA) against several defendants, alleging that exposure to radioactive waste caused them to develop…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves William Phillip Jackson, who owes unpaid federal taxes to the United States. Following a jury trial and post-trial proceedings, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri…

Justia Opinion Summary: Fred Watson filed a lawsuit against Officer Eddie Boyd III and the City of Ferguson, Missouri, alleging violations of his civil rights following a police interaction at a park. Watson claimed unlawful search and seizure,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Joseph Garner pleaded guilty to Receipt/Distribution of Child Pornography, acknowledging a statutory five-year mandatory minimum sentence, which could increase to fifteen years if he had a prior conviction for certain…

Justia Opinion Summary: A jury found Arjune Ahmed guilty of two counts of kidnapping under 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1). The charges stemmed from incidents involving two women, O.B. and A.J. O.B. reported being forcibly taken from a casino in Sioux…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Western Robidoux, Inc. (WRI), which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while involved in federal litigation. Attorney Daniel Blegen, initially representing WRI and its controlling family members, moved to…

Justia Opinion Summary: Estella Morris, an employee of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), filed civil-rights claims against her employer, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. Morris, who is black, claimed she…

Justia Opinion Summary: Hannah Hekel received a letter from Hunter Warfield, Inc., a debt-collection agency hired by her landlord to collect past-due rent. The letter offered to forgive the debt in exchange for payment of about half of what she…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 1983, an Arkansas rural electric distribution cooperative, Carroll Electric, entered into a lease agreement with the City of Berryville and constructed a telecommunications tower. In 1994, Carroll Electric subleased…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2022, NavSav Holdings, LLC, a Texas insurance company, acquired Universal Group, Ltd., a Nebraska insurance company. Following the acquisition, NavSav required Universal’s employees to sign noncompete and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Eric Poemoceah, an Oklahoma resident and member of the Comanche Nation, participated in a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. On February 22, 2017, while…

Justia Opinion Summary: Officer Blayne Newton of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department shot and killed Donnie Sanders during a traffic stop. Sanders’s children, Latetia Nunley and Zahleyiah Fielder, filed a lawsuit against Officer Newton…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2007, Dennis Collins, Suzanne Collins, David Butler, and Lucia Bott purchased long-term care insurance policies from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). They also bought an Inflation Protection Rider, which…

Justia Opinion Summary: Angela Richardson, an inmate in Arkansas, filed a lawsuit against Krystle Reed Duncan, a former prison security officer, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging sexual harassment and assault in violation of the Eighth…

Justia Opinion Summary: Absolute Essence LLC sought to enter the medical marijuana market in Arkansas but was unable to secure a license. The company invested over a million dollars in the application process, including finding a location and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Rodrigo Castillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The district court, adopting the Presentence Investigation Report (PSR), determined…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which establishes a framework to regulate horseracing through the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a private nonprofit corporation. The Authority is…

Justia Opinion Summary: Nyynkpao Banyee, a citizen of Ivory Coast and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was detained for a year while awaiting a decision on his deportation. His criminal history includes theft, lying to the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Daniel’la Deering, an in-house lawyer for Lockheed Martin, was terminated and subsequently sued the company for discrimination and retaliation. While her discrimination claim was dismissed at the summary judgment stage,…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a criminal prosecution for a murder in Indian country. Francisco Villanueva and Adan Corona were convicted of first-degree murder and other offenses related to the killing of Vincent Von Brewer III, who…

Justia Opinion Summary: Ryan Davis and Anthony Crane ordered wet ready-mix concrete from Simon Contractors for a garage floor project. Both had limited experience with concrete, though Davis had experience with a similar product called thinset.…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2020, the Springfield R-12 School District mandated "equity training" for its employees. Two employees, Brooke Henderson and Jennifer Lumley, attended the training and later sued the school district and several…

Justia Opinion Summary: Elizabeth Holt, a former insurance agent for Medicare Medicaid Advisors, Inc. (MMA), alleged that MMA and several insurance carriers (Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare) violated the False Claims Act (FCA). Holt claimed…

Justia Opinion Summary: Thomas Petters orchestrated a Ponzi scheme through his company, Petters Company, Inc. (PCI), which collapsed in 2008. Following Petters' arrest and conviction, PCI was placed into receivership, and Douglas Kelley was…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christian Carrillo Topete was convicted of possessing child pornography, with some images involving minors under 12 years old. The key issue was whether his prior conviction for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse…

Justia Opinion Summary: Descart Begay, Jr. was convicted by a jury of sexual abuse and aggravated sexual abuse of S.S., a former coworker. After reconnecting via Facebook, Begay visited S.S. at her home on the Red Lake reservation in Minnesota.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Drew Clark committed a series of crimes on May 26, 2021, including three car thefts, home invasions, and brandishing a stolen firearm. He was convicted by a jury of possessing a stolen firearm, three counts of…

Justia Opinion Summary: On August 10, 2020, a derecho caused significant damage to the plaintiffs' property in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The plaintiffs filed a claim with their insurer, State Farm, which initially paid $2,297.26 for the damage. After…

Justia Opinion Summary: A fire damaged a hotel owned by Shri Ganesai, LLC, which had an insurance policy with AmGuard Insurance Company. The policy also covered the mortgagee, Academy Bank, N.A. AmGuard denied Shri's claim, suspecting arson by…

Justia Opinion Summary: Russell Hotchkiss, a resident of Linn County, Iowa, began sending emails to the Cedar Rapids Community School District officials in September 2021, criticizing their COVID-19 masking and vaccination policies. His…

Justia Opinion Summary: While patrolling Interstate 40 in Lonoke County, Arkansas, State Police Corporal Travis May stopped Tommy Collier for drifting into the shoulder. May noticed Collier's shaking hands, a disorderly car interior, and an…

Justia Opinion Summary: Farnsworth Coleman, the sole member of Coleman Consulting, LLC (CC), entered into a written Confidentiality Agreement with Domtar A.W. LLC (Domtar A.W.) in November 2016 to provide consulting services for a pulp mill in…

Justia Opinion Summary: During a night of civil unrest in Des Moines, Iowa, police and Polk County deputies arrested 14 individuals. The arrestees claimed their Fourth Amendment rights were violated and sued 53 defendants under 42 U.S.C. §…

Justia Opinion Summary: Anthony Fisher, while burglarizing a home, encountered the homeowner and shot him multiple times. Fisher, a felon at the time, was charged by the federal government with unlawful possession of ammunition under 18 U.S.C.…

Justia Opinion Summary: TD Ameritrade offers brokerage services to retail investors, allowing them to trade stocks through its online platform. The company routes customer orders to trading venues for execution. Roderick Ford, representing a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Marcus Millsap was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), aiding and abetting attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute and…

Justia Opinion Summary: A group of Union Pacific Railroad Company employees filed a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging that its fitness-for-duty program violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Todd DeGeer, believing…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2011, Shawn Scherer was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon and sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Shortly after beginning his supervised release, he tested…

Justia Opinion Summary: Erica Barrett and other employees of O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. alleged that the company’s 401(k) plan managers breached their fiduciary duty by imposing high recordkeeping expenses and inflated expense ratios on the…

Justia Opinion Summary: JES Farms Partnership sold crops through Indigo Ag's digital platform. In 2021, JES initiated arbitration against Indigo, alleging breach of a marketplace seller agreement and trade rule violations. Indigo…

Justia Opinion Summary: Darris Lamar Mull pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The presentence investigation report (PSR) assessed a base offense level of 20 due to the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Raymond Black, a skilled mechanic at Swift Pork Company, was responsible for operating and fixing the loin-puller machine. He frequently took FMLA leave to care for his wife, who had severe cardiovascular disease. After…

Justia Opinion Summary: Craig and Brianna Dulworth discovered that Experian, a credit-reporting agency, incorrectly reported their automobile loan as discharged through bankruptcy, despite their reaffirmation and continued payments. After…

Justia Opinion Summary: Henry Dailey began a ten-year term of supervised release after serving a prison sentence for his involvement in a commercial sex trafficking ring. Four months into his supervised release, his Probation Officer filed a…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2021, Missouri enacted the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which declared certain federal firearms regulations as infringements on the right to keep and bear arms and invalid within the state. The Act prohibited…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Lockhart, a licensed Arkansas bail bondsman and private investigator, was stopped by Siloam Springs police officer Zachary Ware around 3:30 AM on March 11, 2019, for alleged traffic violations. Lockhart was…

Justia Opinion Summary: Mychal Byrd was injured in an automobile accident caused by an unknown motorist and subsequently died from his injuries. Byrd's medical expenses, totaling $474,218.24, were covered by the Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation…

Justia Opinion Summary: Bruce Alexander and Terrence Gay were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Gay pleaded guilty, while Alexander went to trial and was found guilty by a jury. Alexander…

Justia Opinion Summary: Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Association of American Railroads challenged the Surface Transportation Board's (Board) adoption of the Final Offer Rate Review (FORR) procedure for determining the reasonableness…

Justia Opinion Summary: In July 2018, a tornado damaged Vermeer Corporation’s facilities in Pella, Iowa. Roger Paul Bradford was hired in January 2019 as the Director of Construction to oversee the reconstruction. Bradford conspired with Viorel…

Justia Opinion Summary: Covenant Construction Services, LLC was the prime contractor on a federal construction project for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Iowa City, Iowa. Covenant subcontracted with Calacci Construction…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2000, Karl Roberts was convicted and sentenced to death in Arkansas state court for the rape and murder of his twelve-year-old niece. Roberts waived his right to challenge his conviction on direct appeal, in state…

Justia Opinion Summary: Norman Burch was convicted by a jury of attempting to sexually exploit a minor, attempting to receive and receiving child pornography, and committing a felony sex offense involving a minor while required to register as a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Tina Sully, a foster parent for the Yankton Sioux Tribe, was charged with multiple counts of abusing her three adopted children. The charges stemmed from an incident where 13-year-old C.S. ran away from home and reported…

Justia Opinion Summary: Joshua Vogt died of a drug overdose while detained in a county jail. His daughter, Molly Vogt, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that three officers deliberately disregarded his medical condition. The…

Justia Opinion Summary: Two high school brothers, Kameron and Noah Evans, were arrested for disorderly conduct after wearing tactical vests to school. The brothers, who had faced racial bullying, wore the vests on a day when the school was…

Justia Opinion Summary: Elmarries Harris was serving a term of supervised release following a prison sentence for a firearms offense. In January 2023, the probation office reported several violations of his release conditions, including an…

Justia Opinion Summary: Four female hockey players filed a lawsuit against the University of North Dakota, alleging that the university violated Title IX by eliminating the women’s ice hockey program after the 2016-17 season. None of the…

Justia Opinion Summary: A Columbia County resident, Roderick McDaniel, was shot and killed by Deputy Charles McClinton outside an apartment complex in Magnolia, Arkansas. McDaniel was a suspect in a first-degree murder case, and an arrest…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the Center for Biological Diversity's efforts to protect the Canadian lynx, a threatened species, from incidental trapping in Minnesota. The Center sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,…

Justia Opinion Summary: In March 2022, federal and local law enforcement in Sioux Falls conducted an undercover operation to identify individuals enticing minors online for sexual purposes. Agents created profiles on social media applications,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christina Barrera, the office manager at PowerMed, was involved in a scheme to help unqualified individuals, mainly employees of AB InBev, fraudulently obtain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration…

Justia Opinion Summary: Derrick Lovell Parker pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin, violating 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). The advisory Guidelines range for his sentence was 70 to 87 months. However, the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Henry Stursberg, a financial consultant, sued Morrison Sund PLLC, a Minnesota law firm, for allegedly running up legal fees without achieving results. After Stursberg decided to change counsel, Morrison Sund filed an…

Justia Opinion Summary: David Burke died after falling down retractable steps attached to his motorhome. His estate, wife, and children filed product liability claims against Lippert Components, Inc., and LCI Industries, who had purchased the…

Justia Opinion Summary: In January 2019, Robert Wolter robbed a bank in Bismarck, North Dakota, taking approximately $6,800. He was later arrested in February 2019 for smuggling bulk cash while attempting to fly to Ghana. Those charges were…

Justia Opinion Summary: In August 2020, Joe Willie Cannon, an inmate at Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP), injured his right wrist while playing basketball. He sought medical attention from ASP staff, including nurses and a doctor, but…

Justia Opinion Summary: In November 2018, 16-year-old S.G. was reported missing but returned to her Iowa high school the next day. She told the school resource officer, Matthew Poirier, that she had spent the weekend in Chicago at "Sweat's"…

Justia Opinion Summary: James Hanapel was convicted by a jury of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The case stemmed from an undercover operation during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, where a Department of…

Justia Opinion Summary: An Arkansas inmate, Steven Pinder, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that various defendants, including Wellpath, LLC, and its employees, were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs,…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) issued a final rule reclassifying pistols equipped with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and the Gun Control…

Justia Opinion Summary: Gabriel White Plume, Sr. was convicted of multiple charges, including witness tampering and assault, following a violent incident involving his girlfriend, CLS. On January 10, 2023, White Plume, while under the influence…

Justia Opinion Summary: In May 2023, Iowa's Governor signed Senate File 496 (SF496) into law, which introduced new regulations for public school libraries, classrooms, and curriculum, and required parental notification for certain gender…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves several states suing the President of the United States, the Secretary of Education, and the U.S. Department of Education to prevent the implementation of a plan to forgive approximately $475 billion in…

Justia Opinion Summary: Antonio Webb, a former state inmate in Missouri, filed a lawsuit against several prison officials, alleging violations of his Eighth Amendment rights. Webb claimed he was subjected to sexual harassment and abuse, that…

Justia Opinion Summary: Devon Arseneau and her ex-husband were involved in a child custody dispute in the St. Louis County Circuit Court. The court appointed Elaine Pudlowski and Brian Dunlop as guardians ad litem to represent the child's best…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) sued Union County, Arkansas, and various officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. HRDC claimed that the defendants refused to…

Justia Opinion Summary: In June 2018, Jonathan Stacy Berrier was indicted for enticing a minor in Arkansas to engage in sexual activity and traveling interstate for illicit sexual conduct. After the government presented incriminating…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Edwards was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Law enforcement began investigating Edwards after receiving tips about…

Justia Opinion Summary: An inmate in the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) filed a pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action, alleging that several ADC employees retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment rights. The inmate claimed…

Justia Opinion Summary: During Winter Storm Uri, Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (Southwest) contacted Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (the Cooperative) to purchase emergency energy. The Cooperative provided the energy and was subsequently…

Justia Opinion Summary: During Winter Storm Uri, Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (Southwest) contacted Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (the Cooperative) to purchase emergency energy. The Cooperative provided the energy, and Southwest…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Allied Professionals Insurance Company (APIC) sought to compel arbitration in a dispute with NCMIC Insurance Company (NCMIC). The dispute arose after a patient sued Charlotte Erdmann, a massage therapist…

Justia Opinion Summary: Eniola Famuyide filed a lawsuit against Chipotle Mexican Grill and its subsidiary, alleging sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. Famuyide claimed that a co-worker began harassing her shortly after she started…

Justia Opinion Summary: Charlotte Erdmann, a massage therapist insured by Allied Professionals Insurance Company (APIC), was sued by a patient, Kristin Schantzen, and her husband, Jay, for injuries sustained during a massage session. Erdmann's…

Justia Opinion Summary: Marlon Winborn was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon after police arrested him following an investigatory stop. The stop was initiated based on multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots in an area known…

Justia Opinion Summary: Martin Brauner transmitted HPV to M.O. through sexual activity in Brauner’s GEICO-insured automobile. M.O. threatened to sue Brauner for negligence and demanded $1,000,000 from GEICO, which denied the claim and sought a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Two tribal companies, Rock River Manufacturing, Inc. and HCI Distribution, Inc., challenged Nebraska's enforcement of its escrow and bond requirements for cigarette sales. These requirements stem from a Master Settlement…

Justia Opinion Summary: Four parents of students in the Independence School District challenged the District’s policy of removing library materials upon receiving a complaint, pending a formal review. They argued that this policy violated their…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Drew was arrested after officers responded to a harassment complaint from his neighbor, who reported that Drew had threatened her and her child. When officers arrived at Drew's apartment, they found him in a…

Justia Opinion Summary: In the 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers purchased land from the Meltons and the Paines, using traditional surveying descriptions. A 1962 subdivision plat map indicated a stone (Peter’s Stone) that appeared to mark…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kylee Starr pleaded guilty to three controlled substance offenses in October 2022. She was released to a sober living home while awaiting sentencing. In March 2023, the district court sentenced her to time served and 48…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves over 1,420 Peruvian citizens alleging environmental harm due to exposure to toxic substances from the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex (LOMC) in Peru. The plaintiffs claim that Doe Run Resources…

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert Hansen was convicted by two juries of multiple gun and drug crimes. The district court sentenced him to 300 months in prison for the first case and 120 months for the second, to run concurrently. Hansen appealed,…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 1993, Darrin Rick pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct involving four developmentally disabled girls and one seven-year-old boy. After failing to complete sex-offender treatment programs in prison, Hennepin…

Justia Opinion Summary: Daniel Graff purchased a life insurance policy from Brighthouse Life Insurance Company for his father, with Graff as the beneficiary. Over the years, Graff paid more in premiums than the policy's death benefit. He sued…

Justia Opinion Summary: Luke LeFever was involved in a series of criminal activities following a roadside encounter with Deputy Castellanos of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Department. LeFever lunged at the deputy, was tased twice, and fled the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Eddie Humes was arrested on October 19, 2017, and booked into the White County Detention Center. The next day, he was bitten by a spider, causing his hand and arm to swell significantly. Over three days, Humes repeatedly…

Justia Opinion Summary: James Setchfield, a 68-year-old man, filed a lawsuit against St. Charles County Police Department officers Nicholas Seiverling and Scott Ronald, alleging they used excessive force during an incident in a parking lot. The…

Justia Opinion Summary: A joint state and federal criminal investigation, "Operation Back Cracker," uncovered a scheme where Minnesota healthcare providers, primarily chiropractors, recruited car accident victims and fraudulently billed auto…

Justia Opinion Summary: Marquice Morris was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The case involved Morris and his co-defendant, Brandon Johnson, who conspired to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl in Minnesota.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Izeall Collins was convicted by a jury of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Collins was apprehended at the Kansas City Greyhound bus terminal…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kelsey Weyer applied for long-term disability benefits under a policy issued by Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company through her employer. Weyer suffers from multiple medical conditions, including chronic fatigue…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a pass-through billing scheme orchestrated by Beau Gertz, Mark Blake, SeroDynamics, and LabMed Services (collectively, the Sero Defendants). They made it appear that blood tests conducted at their…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves three plaintiffs: Rockne Miller, a former Missouri legislator; John LaVanchy, a committee-records specialist currently working for the General Assembly; and Presidio Environmental, LLC, a company that…

Justia Opinion Summary: Cybercriminals hacked into T-Mobile's computer systems, stealing personal information of approximately 76.6 million customers. Several customers filed class action lawsuits against T-Mobile, which were centralized in the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Tyrell Gaston was on probation following a deferred judgment for a robbery that resulted in a gunfight, leaving him injured and his cousin dead. Shortly after, he was involved in two more violent incidents involving…

Justia Opinion Summary: Joshua Francisco, an inmate at Farmington Correctional Center (FCC), suffered from mental illness and was placed on suicide watch multiple times during his incarceration. Despite receiving treatment and being evaluated…

Justia Opinion Summary: Enright Seeding, Inc. is involved in a dispute with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, AFL-CIO, regarding the nature of their collective bargaining agreement. Enright Seeding, a construction…

Justia Opinion Summary: Allan Sanders, a foreman general at Union Pacific Railroad Company, sued his employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Sanders claimed that Union Pacific discriminated against him by imposing work…

Justia Opinion Summary: On December 26, 2019, Officers Rozeboom and Malone responded to a shoplifting report at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Papillion, Nebraska. The suspects were described as a black male and black female in a silver four-door…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2020, a student organization at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, along with two students, sued the University for alleged First and Fourteenth Amendment violations. The case centered on the University's…

Justia Opinion Summary: The State of South Dakota charged Ronald Lee Neels with multiple sex-related offenses, including rape, sexual contact, and incest, for the sexual abuse of his adopted daughter over a 14-year period. During the trial, the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Michelle Collins, a black woman, worked at Union Pacific Railroad Company for 42 years, holding over twenty positions. She alleged that several managers discriminated against her based on race, including assigning her…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kenneth Hunt arrived at the Lee County Courthouse to testify in a criminal case. Directed outside due to courtroom scheduling, Hunt re-entered and sat on a staircase. Officer Dale Acosta confronted Hunt, leading to a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute over a Surface Use Agreement (SUA) between Mikkelson Land, LLLP, and Continental Resources, Inc. The disagreement centers on whether the SUA authorized Continental to install water pipelines…

Justia Opinion Summary: Dalonte Foard and his uncle, Thomas Holbert, picked up two foster youths, M.D. and M.J., from their foster home. M.D. and M.J. were taken to a motel where Holbert took provocative photos of them to include in online…

Justia Opinion Summary: Colton Bagola was convicted of first-degree murder and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence after shooting Sloane Bull Bear in the back of the head at a gathering in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Witnesses…

Justia Opinion Summary: Frank Bibeau, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, argued that his self-employment income from his law practice on the Leech Lake Reservation was exempt from federal taxation. For the 2016 and 2017 tax years, Bibeau…

Justia Opinion Summary: Clyde O. Carter, Jr. filed a complaint under the Federal Rail Safety Act (FRSA) against BNSF Railway Company, alleging retaliation for reporting a work-related injury. Carter claimed that BNSF initiated disciplinary…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jackie Davidson was convicted of assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence after he shot at an SUV, mistakenly believing it was driven by a man named Omar, who…

Justia Opinion Summary: Officer Daniel Irish, while pursuing a suspect, was bitten by a police K9 named Thor, handled by Deputy Keith McNamara. Irish sued McNamara under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights due…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kevin Bordeaux pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer. On July 6, 2022, Bordeaux shot his…

Justia Opinion Summary: Darius Sledge and Baquan Sledge were involved in a large-scale drug distribution conspiracy in North Dakota, targeting several Indian Reservations. They transported thousands of oxycodone pills from Michigan and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Two men, Bruce Sanford and Houston Simmons, were found in a car outside a nightclub in Waterloo, Iowa. A nightclub owner reported to the police that the men were smoking and drinking in the car. When officers arrived,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Three gun rights organizations and their members challenged Minnesota’s permit-to-carry statute, which requires applicants to be at least 21 years old, arguing it violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. The…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kalvin Earl Richardson purchased a house in St. Louis County, Missouri, through a Post Third Sale Offering, a process for selling tax-delinquent properties that have not been sold in three consecutive annual…

Justia Opinion Summary: S.A.A. filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Officer Samantha Geisler, alleging Fourth Amendment violations during her arrest. The initial complaint, filed on September 20, 2021, claimed false arrest and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kendra Kingsbury, an FBI Intelligence Analyst with Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance, pled guilty to two counts of willful retention of national defense information. During her…

Justia Opinion Summary: Nycoca Hairston, an employee at the United States Army’s Pine Bluff Arsenal, alleged that her immediate supervisor sexually harassed her and that she was unlawfully terminated in retaliation for her complaints. Hairston…

Justia Opinion Summary: Ethan Marks, a 19-year-old, sustained severe injuries, including a ruptured eyeball and traumatic brain injury, when Minneapolis Police Officer Benjamin Bauer shot him with a chemical-filled projectile from a close range…

Justia Opinion Summary: Kayne Russell Donath pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. During a traffic stop, Donath, who had an outstanding warrant, refused to exit the vehicle, grabbed the gearshift, and commanded the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ryan Dewayne Myrick’s apartment, discovering 69.01 grams of methamphetamine, drug packaging, a digital scale, and other paraphernalia. In his vehicle, they found additional…

Justia Opinion Summary: Following the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright, protests erupted in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Sam Wolk, a protester, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging First and Fourth Amendment violations and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Petitioners, Sandra Estela Calvo-Tino and her minor daughter A.M.L.C., are natives of Guatemala. A.M.L.C. suffers from a severe genetic disorder that requires constant medical attention. In Guatemala, they faced…

Justia Opinion Summary: Teddy and Melanie Scott filed a lawsuit against Dyno Nobel, Inc., alleging that Teddy suffered serious injuries from exposure to a toxic gas cloud negligently emitted from Dyno’s nitric acid plant in Louisiana, Missouri.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Mark Whitworth was convicted by a jury of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Missouri State Highway Patrol officers executed a search warrant at…

Justia Opinion Summary: Chad Eric Mink was convicted on June 24, 2019, of 15 counts related to a harassment campaign against his ex-girlfriend and her partner. He was sentenced to 600 months in prison. Mink appealed, and the Eighth Circuit…

Justia Opinion Summary: In September 2021, cybercriminals targeted a chain of pawnshops, a payday lender, and a prepaid-card company, exposing customers' personal information. The companies informed customers of the breach weeks later, leading…

Justia Opinion Summary: Dr. Igor DeCastro, a neurosurgeon, worked at the Hot Springs Neurosurgery Clinic for seven years. He claimed that after his initial 18-month salary period, he was supposed to receive compensation based on the net…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around James "Tim" Norman, who was convicted of conspiring to commit murder for hire and murder for hire, as well as conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud. Norman had orchestrated the murder of his…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Norman Thurber, who was convicted of six counts of production of child pornography. The charges stemmed from videos found on Thurber's cell phone, which depicted him engaging in sexual acts with a minor…

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a qui tam action under the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Iowa False Claims Act (IFCA) brought by Stephen Grant, a sleep medicine practitioner, against Steven Zorn, Iowa Sleep Disorders Center, and…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Brandon Manning, who was convicted of two counts of Possession of Child Pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had provided a tip that a Google subscriber, linked to…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Thomas Clobes, a Christian employee at a 3M manufacturing plant in Minnesota, who objected to 3M's COVID-19 vaccination policy on religious grounds. Clobes was told he would be terminated if he…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a family from El Salvador seeking asylum in the United States. The family consists of Jose Maria Rivera, a pastor, his wife Morena, their two children, and Morena's son Reyes. Rivera and his church were…

Justia Opinion Summary: In April 2018, Benjamin Evans was shot and killed by Police Deputy Brian Krook in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, after Evans knelt in a crosswalk with a loaded gun pointed at his own head. Following a criminal trial, Krook was…

Justia Opinion Summary: Anthony Wings, a convicted felon, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. During sentencing, the district court determined that Wings's base offense level was twenty due to a prior felony…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a request for disclosure of certain redacted contents of the Internal Revenue Manual under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by T. Keith Fogg. The redacted contents pertain to the IRS's…

Justia Opinion Summary: Ashena Laquita Tucker Jackson was convicted for possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The investigation began after law enforcement received information that she and her husband were…

Justia Opinion Summary: Steven Barros Pinto was convicted on multiple counts related to the importation and distribution of drugs, following a nineteen-day trial. The evidence presented at trial established a drug distribution and importation…

Justia Opinion Summary: In December 2019, Tonya Huber, a store manager for Westar Foods, Inc., missed work due to a diabetic episode. Shortly after, Westar fired her. Huber sued Westar, alleging disability discrimination under the Americans…

Justia Opinion Summary: Garland Joseph Nelson was convicted of mail fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm, following a cattle fraud scheme he operated in Missouri. Nelson received cattle from Diemel’s Livestock, a company owned by…

Justia Opinion Summary: A physical therapist, Pamela Cole, filed a lawsuit against her employer, Group Health Plan, Inc., alleging religious discrimination under Title VII and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Cole, a member of the Eckankar…

Justia Opinion Summary: During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, American Screening, LLC, a Louisiana company, promised buyers that it would ship personal protective equipment (PPE) more quickly than it actually did. The Federal Trade…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around an insurance dispute between the Bradshaw Family Trust Inc., operating as Hunton Office Supply Inc. (Hunton), and Twin City Fire Insurance Company (Twin City). In June 2019, Hunton renewed a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a group of plaintiffs who filed a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Independent School District 194 and its superintendent. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants violated their…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jonathan Lee Sutton was convicted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The case arose from two shooting incidents in Davenport, Iowa, where Sutton was identified as the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Ricky Hughes, a railroad employee, was injured twice at work during his Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. He did not disclose these potential personal injury lawsuits to the bankruptcy court. About 19 months after his…